Joey Barton has been handed a lifeline to stay at Newcastle by boss Alan Shearer. (The Sun) Carlos Tevez has told Argentina coach Diego Maradona that Manchester United boss is Sir Alex Ferguson an 'old man' who is determined to lower his transfer value. (The Sun) Real Madrid have confirmed their interest in Tevez but the United striker has rejected a chance to play in Spain. (Daily Mail) Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp wants £5million-rated Almeria left-winger Albert Crusat if he is unable to sign Stewart Downing from Middlesbrough. (The Sun) Reading have released goalkeeper Marcus Hahnemann, Graeme Murty, Leroy Lita and Michael Duberry in the wake of their failure to win promotion back to the Barclays Premier League. (Daily Mail) Celtic target James McCarthy has denied claims he is desperate to leave Hamilton and promised to give his all in their fight against relegation. (Daily Record) Real Madrid will reportedly sign AC Milan playmaker Kaka if presidential candidate Florentino Perez regains control of the Spanish club. (in Spanish: Marca)

OTHER GOSSIP

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has reacted angrily to fans' critical response to a fourth consecutive season without silverware, saying he has been made to feel like a "murderer". (Daily Telegraph) Spurs manager Harry Redknapp has urged his players to give up drinking and set an example to youngsters as binge drinking reaches epidemic proportions in the UK. (Daily Telegraph) Harry Redknapp will counsel his players to keep out of bars and the newspaper headlines after he laid bare the drinking and newspaper culture that he inherited at Tottenham. (Times) Chelsea's interim boss Guus Hiddink has told AC Milan's Carlo Ancelotti that taking over at Stamford Bridge could be the best job he will ever have. (Daily Express) Arsenal striker Andrey Arshavin wants Barcelona to beat Manchester United in the Champions League final, insisting: "United look very solid but they play like machines, whereas Barcelona are dreamers, they are more creative". (Daily Mail) Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas, who still has five years of his Emirates contract to run, insists he is fully commited to the club. "I wouldn’t be so committed to the club if I didn’t believe we will win trophies," he said. "For the last four summers people have been saying 'Oh, Cesc will leave now' but I am still here and I will be here next season as well." (Sun)

AND FINALLY

Arshavin has a few choice opinions on women drivers: "I would never give driving lessons to women. We need to build a few new roads for them. Why because you never know what to expect from them," he said. (Daily Mail)www.bbc.co.uk